[WannaBeCaptain]

sorry for a newb post

I am like trying to decide what I want to do with my life. I have few professions in mind and being a yacht captain is one of them.

1)what is general salary for a captain running a private yacht?
2)how is that salary determined?..say do they get paid for down time while the yacht sits in the dock
3)how long would it take from blank to becoming a small yacht captain and cruise ship captain?
4)does it get boring and frustrating at times?

thanks in advance.

[K1W1]

Originally Posted by WannaBeCaptain

sorry for a newb post

I am like trying to decide what I want to do with my life. I have few professions in mind and being a yacht captain is one of them.

1)what is general salary for a captain running a private yacht?How long is a piece of string
2)how is that salary determined?..say do they get paid for down time while the yacht sits in the dockBy experience, qualifications, market pressure and the Owners generosity
3)how long would it take from blank to becoming a small yacht captain and cruise ship captain?Depending upon which education and training route you take you might never make it to Cruise Ship Captain
4)does it get boring and frustrating at times?Just like a normal job there are ups and downs

thanks in advance.

There is a lot of info on the forum use the search function, I have added some brief answers to your questions to get your mind focused.

[Capt J]

Originally Posted by WannaBeCaptain

sorry for a newb post

I am like trying to decide what I want to do with my life. I have few professions in mind and being a yacht captain is one of them.

1)what is general salary for a captain running a private yacht?
2)how is that salary determined?..say do they get paid for down time while the yacht sits in the dock
3)how long would it take from blank to becoming a small yacht captain and cruise ship captain?
4)does it get boring and frustrating at times?

thanks in advance.

1. Generally it is around $1,000 per foot per year, a 65 footer would pay 65,000 year or more if you're good.
2. If you are a full time captain you get paid the same paycheck each week whether the boat moves or not. It still needs to be maintained
3. A cruise ship captain probably 15 years or more.
4. Yeah it can get boring sitting in a little island for 3 months straight or frustrating having a ton of guests on board for 2 weeks straight.

[WannaBeCaptain]

so when you're on the island for 3 months, what can you do? Can you get away for the day if you wanted to?(considering it's sittin at the dock)

Freelance captain job seems very unstable by reading other posts. Is commercial captain other than yacht a better, more stable choice?

[Capt J]

Originally Posted by WannaBeCaptain

so when you're on the island for 3 months, what can you do? Can you get away for the day if you wanted to?(considering it's sittin at the dock)

Freelance captain job seems very unstable by reading other posts. Is commercial captain other than yacht a better, more stable choice?

Yeah, you can go around the island. But whats the point of going around an island that is 5 square miles and 400 inhabitents and has one restaurant. It gets old reeeeeeeaallly quick unless you're the type that likes seclusion.

I own a yacht management business and maintain those as well as daily captaining and deliveries (freelance) and am constantly busy. However it does take years to get that kind of reputation to where people are always calling you.

[WannaBeCaptain]

yeah I figured it won't happen over night.

I would need to work under someone to build up that reputation and experience. I love being on the water, on the boat, on the island so this is ideal but also pretty unstable for raising family I just talked my self out of it lol